CAIRO, October 20, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) � Thailand rebuffed criticism by the chief of the world�s largest Islamic organisation over the government's heavy-handed policies in the Muslim-majority south, a Thai newspaper reported on Thursday, October 20.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra advised the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to "read the holy Qur�an carefully before making criticism about government�s handling of the violence in the Muslim-majority south," reported The Nation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 18, Ihsanoglu vocalized concern over the continuing conflict in south that "claimed the lives of innocent people and forced the migration of local people out of their places".

The OIC chief stressed that the Thai government's security approach to the crisis would aggravate the situation and lead to continued violence.

"I would like him to read the Qur�an, which stated clearly that all Muslims, regardless where they live, must respect the law of that land," Thaksin said.

He said Muslims killed each others, as seen in Iraq, asking "why don�t the OIC make statement of concern".

Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist nation, extended Tuesday the controversial emergency rule in the Muslim south despite mounting criticism that the law will only further alienating members of the Malay-Muslim majority.

Muslims make up about five percent of the kingdom's population and mostly live in the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia.

The southern region was once an independent Muslim sultanate until annexed officially a century ago.

Ihsanoglu said a peaceful solution would come only by addressing the roots of the problem.

Ihsanoglu said a peaceful solution would come only by addressing the roots of the problem and attempting to settle them through dialogue and positive handling of the legitimate aspirations of the Muslim people in the south.

People, he said, need to maintain and express their cultural identity, and manage their local affairs through participation guaranteed by the Thai constitution, within the framework of respect for the territorial integrity of Thailand.

Neighboring Malaysia, the current chair of the OIC, has also expressed concern over the unrest in south.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Tuesday that although it was up to Thailand to manage it, Malaysia also needed to give it attention as it had implications on peace and stability in Malaysia.

Relations between Thailand and Malaysia have soured following a war of words over the handling of the 131 Thai Muslims who took refuge in northern Malaysia, in fear of retaliation from security forces.

Former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed will visit Thailand as the guest of Thaksin.

Mahathir, who will arrive on November 21, has criticised Thailand on a number of occasions and compared the situation in the south to occupied Palestine.

Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said the OIC failed to address what he described as perpetrators of violence who use religion to justify acts of terror.

"We have made it clear to the OIC several times that the violence in the deep South is not caused by religious conflict and the government grants protection to all of our citizens no matter what religion they embrace," he told The Nation.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement Wednesday dismissing the OIC�s criticism and accusing it of disseminating misperceptions and misinformation about the situation in the southern provinces.

"If the OIC secretariat really wants to promote the cause of peace and harmony in the three southern provinces of Thailand, the responsibility falls on the OIC secretariat to strongly condemn the militants, who are perpetrating these acts of violence against both Thai Muslims and Thai Buddhists."

Suphamongkhon said the government had handled the situation in the south with full respect for human rights in accordance with the law and the constitution.

Critics at home and abroad have accused the Thai government of using heavy-handed tactics against Thai Muslims.

A leading UN human rights panel has recently lashed out at the new emergency rule and the culture of impunity given to security forces.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) stressed on May 19 that the Thai government's failure to address Muslim injustices and open a genuine dialogue with Muslim leaders in the south is the real reason behind unrest in the country.